Myth affirming: Three theories about Arsenal v Tottenham

By Aidan Elder | Chief sports writer

There will be goals

You might think Arsenal are an attack-minded team with little aptitude for solid defending and Tottenham are an attack-minded team with little aptitude for solid defending, but there is no but. That’s pretty much spot on and has been for several years now. Thankfully, the more they raise Alan Hansen’s blood pressure with their Keystone Cops defending, the more entertainment they tend to serve up.

In the last ten seasons, they’ve averaged a viewer-friendly 3.84 goals a game and thrown up some absolutely cracking games over the course of that run.

In the early to mid 1990s there was a trend towards lower scoring north London derbies, but like a player staying on his feet in the penalty area, that seems to be largely a thing of the past.

The form book (kind of) goes out the window

Tottenham fans won’t like to admit it, but when it comes to the bread and butter of the Premier League, Arsenal have been the more successful. Tottenham have generally been scrambling around for any form of a European place whilst the Gunners have been if not title contenders, close enough to the top to delude themselves into thinking they might be title contenders.

The last time Spurs finished above Arsenal Hollyoaks was in its first season and the Rednex released Cotton Eyed Joe. 17 years later and Tottenham fans are still yet to celebrate finishing above their closest rivals.

Half of the time it finishes in a draw (nearly)

Since the start of the Premier League these two have face each other 40 times and on 16 occasions they have shared the points. So it’s nearly half, it’s more 40 per cent but that wasn’t a catchy enough heading for this point.

There have been some high scoring draws in that time including a 3-3 in 2011 and a 44 in 2008, as well as plenty of drab 0-0 results thrown in for good measure.

There have been three draws in the last eight league games between these two and it would be no surprise to see them share the spoils again on Saturday afternoon. Both teams can score as many as they concede and the 2-2 draw at 10/1 and the 3-3 draw at 30/1 pack plenty of appeal.